Cutting and welding torch



March 30 1926.

J. D. M CUTCHEON CUTTING AND WELDING TORCH 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 1925 INVENTQR v Re; 1 6,307 J. D. M CUTCHEON CUTTING AND WELDING TORCH Original Filed Jan. 20. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESSES To all 'wh am it may concern Reissued Mar. 30, 1926.,

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. HCCUTCHEON,. OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CUTTING AND WELDING TORCH.

Original no.1,5a7,4s1,'aatedm 12, i925, Serial No. 613,874, med January 20, 1923. Application for reissue filed February 23, 1926. Serial No. 90,217.

Beitknown that I, JAMES D. MCCUTOH- EON, 3.' citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in l Cutting and Welding Torches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to torches, and particularly to a cutting and welding torch adapted to deliver separate or independent jets of a cutting gas and a heating gas, 1n

fwhioh the heating gases are employed for order, which 'is convenient to manipulate,

raising the material acted upon to the necessary temperature to enable the cutting operation to be performed.

It is an object of thecinvention to provide I acutting torch which is simple, compact and durable; which can be manufactured at a nominal cost, which will not easily get out of and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With torches of the character referred to, it is' highly desirable to be able to reduce or control the flow of heating gases during the timed-he fiow of cutting gases is supplied, to

diminish the flow of heating gases simultaneously with the increase in the supply of ject of the invention to provide a device the cutting gases, or in some instances to vary the flow of the respective gases independently of each other. It is a special obwhich will enable the operator to readily control both the heating and cutting jets at will, either to effect a reduction in the size of the heating jet while simultaneously increasing the size of the cutting jet, the dis continuance of the heating jet during the cutting operation, or the independent con-- trol of b'oth'jets to vary their respective intensities.

It is a further special object to provide a torch which is neat in appearance, in which the several control means are conveniently located so as not to render the device cumbersome and awkward to use and at the same [time will readily respond to the initial actuating element which itself is disposed adjacent the handle of the device so as to be easily manipulated by the hand which grips the torch.

It is still a further special object to 'provide a torch in which the cutting and heating gases may be selectively controlled either simultaneously or independently of each other by an actuating device at all times within the easy reach of and capable of being actuated by the hand of the operator rection .of the arrows III-III of 2;

Fig. 4 a transverse sectional view taken on the line IVIV of. Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a. similar view taken on the line VV of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a longitudinal section illustrating a modified form of the invention; Fig. 7 a similar view of a still further modified form of the invention; Fig. 8 a detailed view of the hand-actuated control lever taken on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7; and Figs. 9 and 10 transverse sectional views taken on the lines IX-IX and XX, respectively, of Fig.

Referring to the embodiment" illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the torch comprises the handle portion designated generally by the reference-numeral 1, and the head 2 provided with the nozzle 3 attached thereto which is adapted to deliver the jets of cutting and heating gases, the head being connected to.

the handle by means of the pipes 4 and 5, thus forming a unitary structure. The pipe 4 serves, to deliver the cutting gases to the gases thereto.

with suitable passages for conducting the cutting gases to the central tube 6 and for delivering the heating gases to the annular space formed between the exterior of the tube 6 and the interior oftheouter tube 7 of the nozzle, the inner extremity of the tube 6 being threaded into the body of the head as shown at 8, and the outer tube 7 being held in position by the head nut 9 threaded u a e with well known constructions.

The handle portion 1 comprises a base casting 11 at one end provided with the nipples 12 and 13 to which are attached the respective .tubes 14 and 15 conveying the cutting and fuel gases from their sources of supply, the cutting gas being supplied through the tube 14, while the fuel gas enters the torch by means of the tube 15. The end of the handle portion opposite the base casting 11 consists of a closure plate 16 pro vi'ded at its upper portion with the ear or lug 17 to which the control lever 18 1s p 1v oted. Extending between the base casting and the closure plate are the grips 19 which are attached at their opposite ends in any suitable way to the base casting and closure plate, forming a cylindrical casing there between which not only serves as a convenient means for grasping the'torch, but

also for housing portions of the control apparatus to be presently described.

Located within the interior of the handlecasing and intermediate the base casting and closure plate 16 is a valve block 20 with passages extending therethrough, to the exit end of one of which the pipe 4 is connected, while the pipe 5 is similarly connected-to the other. A p1pe 21 connects at one-end w th the bore of the nipple 12 and at its opposite end with the inlet of the passage from which the pipe 4 leads for the purpose. of supplying the cutting gas. Interposed between the valve block 20 and the base casting 11 is a second block 22 provided with the passages 23 and 24, the passages leading to a common chamber 25 adjacent one end of the block. The chamber 25 is connected by the ipe 26 with the inlet side of the passage of the valve block 20 from which the pipe 5 extends. The end of the passage 23 adjacent the base casting is connected to aduct or branch passage 27, in communicationwith the bore of the nipple 12, by means of-the pipe 28, while the passage 24is connected to a duct leading from the bore of the nipple 13 by a similar pipe 29. Fitting within a suitably formed recess and intersecting the passage 24 is aplug 30 provided with a longitudinal duct 31 and a plurality oi radially extending branch ducts 32. .This plugis threaded into the body of the block as indicated at 33, and serves as a means for limiting the flow of the fuel gases from the tube 15 to the pipe 26, and in addition serves as a means for preventing back-firing beyond the point at which it "is located,,in a well known manner.

The flow of cuttin gas from the pipe 21 to pipe 4, and the tfow of the heating gas the reduced port-ion 10, all in accordextremity with a thumb from pipe 26 to pipe 5 is controlled by suitably constructed valves interposed in the passages of the valve block 20 connecting the said pairs of pipes. These valves are of identical construction and consist of a conical swivelpoint or head 34 swiveled to the stem 35, the intermediate portion of the stem being threaded while its outer extremity is in the form of a spur pinion 36. The threaded portion of the stem is adapted to cooperate with correspondingly internally threaded plugs 37 which are in-turn externally threaded into recesses in the block 20 as indicated at 38. Suitable washers 39 are interposed between the plugs 37 and the head of, the valve, and the swivel points are adapted to cooperate with suitably formed seats indicated ,at 40; It is thus seen that with the construction described rotation of the stems 40 within the plugs 37 will cause longitudinal moyement of the valve soas to seat and unseat swivelheads in an o vious manner.

In order to rotate the valve stems, specialy formed racks are employed. The rack 40 employed for actuating the valve interposed in the supply line for the heating gases is illustrated in Fig. 4, while that employed for actuating the. valve interposed in the supply line for the cutting gases is shown at 40 in Fig-5. These racks are somewhat similar in construction, being provided with elongated slots 41, 41, respectively, and having projecting from their closed lower ends thefingers 42, 42" which extend through guide openings. formed in the grip members of the handle, a coil spring 43, 43' being interposed between the body of the rack and the grip, the spring surrounding the said finger and normally urging theracks in an upward teeth 44 are formed at one side of the vslot 41 throughout a portion of its length which are adapted to mesh with the spur pinion 36 formed on the end of the valve stem, Both racks, project upwardly through suitable guide openings in the rips 19, disposed diametrically opposite t e holes through which the fingers 42, 42 project. The rack illustrated in Fig. 4 is provided at its'upper piece 45 which is connected to the body of the rack by means of the reduced portion 46 while the rack illustrated in' Fig. 5 is merely closed at its upper end 47 by joining the two limbs forming the opposite sides of the slot 41'. It

is to be noted, however, that the rack teeth direction. Rack lever is illustrated in detail in Fig. 8, and consists ofthe handle portion 18' which is divided at a point 18" midwa of its length so as to form the separate lim s 18, 18, the

extremities of which are pivoted to the ear or lug 17 The upper closed end 47 of the rack 40 is adapted to bridge the space between the limbs 18, 18", and'contact the same so as to be forced downwardly when ever the handle 18 is depressed. The limib 18 is provided with "an overhanging lip 46, and the limb 18 is similarly provided with an oppositely disposed overhanging lip 47 the two cooperating to form guiding grooves in which a plate 49 is adapted to slide, this plate being provided at one side with an open ended slot 50 for receiving the reduced portion 46 of the rack 40 so as to lock the said rack to the lever when the plate is in the position shown. in Figs. 2 and 4, causing the rack to move in response to the movements of the control lever 18. Whenever the plate 49 is moved to a position to withdraw the portion 46' from the slot 50, the upper end. of the rack 40 projects freely upwardly between the limbs of the control lever, and will therefore not xespond to movements of the control lever 18 until purposely connected therewith.

The quantity of gas passing through the branch passage 27 is determined by a cutoff valve indicated at 51', this valve being located at one side of the casting 11 and is adapted to be actuated by the knurled head 52. The general construction of this cutoff valve corresponds to that of the control valve reviously de:cribed, with the exception the provision of a knurled head instead of the pinion at its outer end, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This cut-off valve is adapted to regulate the flow of the gas fed from the cuttinggzis supply line to the pipe 23, for a. purpose to be subsequently more fully set forth. Likewise, the supply line for'the fuel gases fed to the pipe 29 is provided with a similarly constructed cutoff valve indicated at 53 equipped with the knurled head 54, the valve 53 being located also at one side of the base casting 11.

The 'gas most commonly used for the cutting gas is oxygen, which as previously described is supplied through the tube 14, while any fuel gas may be used, such as acetylene, the fuel gas being supplied through the tube 15. A portion of the fuel gas is mixed with a portion of the oxygen,

taken from the cutting gas supply line, within the chamber 25 to form the heating gases which are delivered through the pipes 26 and to the nozzle. The oxygen mixed with the fuel gas passes through the branch passage 27, pipe 28, and the duct 23, its flow .therethrough being controlled by manipulation of the valve 51, and being delivered to the chamber at a reduced pressure.

The valves 51 and 53 being set to furnish the necessary flow of gases to form the heating gas, and with the plate 49 moved to a position to lock the rack to the control lever 18, the heating gases are permitted to flow to the nozzle to produce the heating jet in a well known manner, the control interposed between the pipes 26 and 5 being open. This jet is employed for bringing the metal to be cut or severed to the desired temperature, none of the cutting gas being supplied through the pipe 4 during this time due to the fact that the controlvalve 34 in the supply line for the cutting gases is closed. After the material to be operated upon has been brought to the desired temperature, by pressing the control lever'18 downwardly, the control valve 34 in the heating gas line is forced to movetoward its closed position due to the rotation of its guiding stem by means of the rack 40 and its cooperating pinion. During the closure of the said valve, the control valve in the cutting'gas supply line is forced to move to its open position due to the rotation of its stem in the opposite direction, consequently permitting the .fiow of the cutting gas to the nozzle. It is thus seen that with the parts in the position just described, the

supply of heating gases may be diminished.

or entirely cut off simultaneously with the increase in the supply of cutting gases to the nozzle.

In case it is desirable to actuate the control valves in the two supply lines independently of each other, it is merely necessary to move the plate 49 out of locking engage ment with the rack 40, in which instance movement of the control lever 18 will resuit in merely controlling the valve in the cutting gas line, while theflow of heating gases maybe controlled by actuation of the thumb piece 45.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 6, thehandle portion is made up of the base casting 11, the closure plate 16 and the interposed grip portions 19f, the handle portion being connected to the head portions 2 by means of the pipes '4, and 61. The nozzle in this modification corresponds to that in the form previously described, but instead of delivering fuel gas and oxygen in mixed condition to the head, the low pressure oxygen is supplied through the pipe 60 and the fuel gas through the pipe 61 and suitably formed passages in the head to the mixing chamber 62, the fuel gases being forced to flow through the plug 63, corresponding in construction to the plug 30 in the previously described form, fitting within a recess in the head. The valve for controlling the flow of high pressure oxygen for cutting purposes is indicated at 64 which. is

located within the valve plug 65, while the a cated generally at 66. The valve 64 corresponds 1n construction. to valve 34, previously described, and is adapted to be actuated by means of ing to rack 40 The valve 66 is of special constructionand consists of a non-rotatable plug 68exteriorly is disposed. The outer end of the stem 70 73 isa spur pinion 78 is provided with abeveled pinion 72 which is adapted to to one end of a shaft 'Tisuitably journalled for rotary movement in a lug 75 formed on the head, a bracket 7 6 depending from the pipe 61, and an apertured lug 7 7. formed at one side of. the closure plate 16. Fixed to the end of the shaft 74: opposite the pinion which is adapted to mesh with the rack teeth? 9 formed upon the rack 80, corresponding in construction with the rack 40 shown in Fig. 4, with the ex ception that the lower end thereof extends below the handle, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 6, said rack being urged upwardly by the'extension spring 80.

The form illustrated in Fig. 6 operates as follows: The depression of the control lever 18 actuates the control valve for the cutting gases in the same manner as in the embodiment first described, and the rack 80 may be either connected or disconnected from the c said lever as in said embodiment. Reciprocation of the rack 80 causes rotation of the pinion 78, the shaft 74, 72, resulting in rotation of member 69, Rotatidn of, the to its threaded connection with the "plug the cup shaped valve 68 causes the valve to be reciprocated for the purpose'of regulatin the flowv of gases through the passage whic itintersects, consequently controlling the flow of heating gases to the nozzle. trol lever 18 to the rack 80 both the cutting gases and the heating gases may be simultaneously controlled, while by merely disconnecting the rack 80 from the control lever, the flow of the two gases may be independently governed.

- It will therefore be seen that the primary distinction between the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and that illustrated. in Fig.

' 6, is the mixing of the fuel gas and low. pressure oxygen within the head of the torch, and the disposition of the control valve for the heating gases in the head thus reducing the dangers of back-firing therebeyond.

, In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10, the control lever is pivoted to the base casting -11, as at 80, instead of to the closureplate 16", and all of the control valves are located in the base the rack 67 correspondthreaded inner end of a cup shaped member 69 provided with. Th

mesh with a pinion 73 attachedpassages is controlled 91 corresponds to rack 40 the pinions 73 and member 69 due Y 'passage86 and the flow By connecting the concasting itself, instead of in separate blocks-or in the head 2". In this form the handle portion is connected the head by means of three supply pipes, a.

for supplying the high pressure cutting oxygen and the pipes 81 and 82, which connect withsuitable passages in the head 2", and discharge into the common chamber 83 for delivering the heating casting through the nipple 84, while the fuel gas is supplied through the nipple 85. The base casting is provided with three sets of passages, a main passage for supplying the cutting oxygen and which is connected to the inner end of the pipe 4, a branch passage 86 leading therefrom and delivering into the pipe 81, and a third passage establishing communication between the nipple 85 and the pipe 82. The flow through these three by the respective valves gases to the nozzle.- e supply of oxygen is fed to the base- 87, 88 and 89, all corresponding in construction to the control valves 84 in the embodiment first described. The valve 87 is adapted to be actuated upon reciprocation of the rack 90, while the adapted to be actuated in unison by means of the rack 91. The raclr90 corresponds in construction to the rack 40* with the exception that instead of being provided with but a I single set of rack teeth, rack 91 is equipped with two sets of rack teeth indicated at 92 and 93, as clearly shown in F ig. 9, for meshing with the pinions of the respective valves 88 and 89.

The operation of this modification will .be obvious in view of that pointed out in connection with the other two forms. Depression of the control lever 18 results in the actuation of the control valve 87 governing the flow-of cutting oxygen, while actuation of the rack 91 results in moving both valves 88 and 89,, consequently, governing theflow of the low pressure oxygen traversing the of fuel gases to the pipe 82 from the nipple 85. Control of both valves 88 and 89 in unison, and in the same sense, has the ultimate effect of governing the supply of heating gases delivered to the chamber 83 and to the nozzle. The same locking means is employed in this embodionein which the flow of cutting and heating gases may be controlled either simultane-' valves 88 and 89 are,

while the rack I ment as in the previously described forms mechanisms afe ously or independently at thewill of the operator. It is obvious that withthe use of a torch of the kind described that theflow of the heating gases during the cutting op-. eration may be entirely. cutoff or reduced to a uninimum thereby effecting a decided sav ng .111 the quantity of heating gases consumed.

I claim head having passageways for delivering heating and cutting gases, three conduits leading from the handle to the head, one

gas and-each of the other two for a gaseous component of a combustible mixture, to

- form a heating gas, and means operated by.

a single controlling element for simultaneously increasing the flowof cutting gas and decreasing the flow of heating gases. -2. A cutting torch comprising a head adapted to dehver cutting and heating jets, three supply lines delivering gases to said head, one of said lines delivering gasto form the cutting jet, said two rem'aininglines delivering gases to form the heating jet, a

common controlling element operatively.

connected to all of said valves, movement of said controlling element in one direction serving to open the valve in the line for supplying the cutting gas and to close both the said valves in the lines for heating gases.

3; A cutting torch comprising a handle, a

head having passageways for delivering heating andv cutting gases, -three conduits leading from the-handle to the head, one

. conduit being for the delivery of a cutting gas andeach of the other two fora gaseous component of a-combustible mixture to form a heating gas, a valve forcontrolling flow of cutting gas, a valve for controlling. flow of the heating gases, anda single control ling element for operating said valves for simultaneously increasing the. flow of cutting gas and decreasingthe -,'gases.

"4.A cutting torch comprising a nozzle adapted to'deliver cutting and heating jets,

gas to form the heating jet, Valves inter-1' posed in each of said supply lines for controlling the cutting and heating gases without altering the character thereof, and means for selectively actuating said valves either unison or independently of each other. y

5. A cutting torch comprising a handle, a head provided with a delivery nozzle adapted to form cutting and heating jets,

head as a unitary structure, one of said pipes delivering gas to form the cutting jet, and

1. A cutting torch comprising a handle, a

condut beingv for the delivery of a cutting valve interposed in each of saidlines, and a supplying the v a supply line for delivering gas to form the cutting jet, a second supply line delivering pipes operatively connecting. the'handle andwithout altering the character thereof, and means for selectively moving said valves elther in unison or independently of each other, the actuating element for the .last

named means being located adjacent the said handle.

6. A cutting torch comprising a nozzle adapted to deliver cutting and heating jets,

a supply line delivering gas to form the cutting et, a second supply line delivering gas toform the heating jet, valves interposed in each of saidgas supply lines, separate actuating members operatively connected to each of said valves, :1 control member adapted to move both 'saidactuating members, and means for selectively connecting and disconnecting the control member from one of said actuating members.

7 A cutting torch comprising a nozzle adapted to deliver cuttingiand heating'jets, a supply line delivering gas to form the cutting jet, a second supply line delivering gas to form the heating jet, valves interposed in each of said gas supply lines, separate rack bars operativelyassociated with each ofv said valves, acontrol lever for reciprocating both said racks, and a catch for selectively locking and unlockingthe said lever to one of said racks. v

8. A cutting torch comprising a nozzle adapted to deliver cutting and heating jets, a supply line delivering gas to form the cutting jet, a second supplyline delivering gas to form the heating jet,' valves interposed in each of said gas supply lines, separate rack bars operatively associated with each of said valves, springs urging said racks to move in one direction, a control lev er abutting one of the racks to move the same in the opposite direction, and a catch for operatively connecting and disconnecting the remaining rack from the said lever.

9. A cutting torch comprising a head adapted to deliver cutting and heating jets, a base casting at the rear of the torch provided with" three passageways, a pipe communicating with each of said passageways for conducting gas therefromto the said head, one'of'said pipes supplying gas for the cutting jet, the remainlng p1pessupplyinggases forthe heating jet, a valve iiiter- 1 Y posed in each of said passageways, and a common control element for all of said valves, movement of said control element in 'one direction serving to open the valve in the pipe supplying the cutting jetand toclose the said remaining valves.

10. A cutting torch comprisin a head adapted to deliver cutting and heating jets, a base casting at the rear of the torch provided with three passageways, each of said passageways having a valve seat interposed therein, a. valve cooperating with each of tions between the said lever and the stems said valve seats having its stem extending of the valves, movement of said lever in one longitudinally of the torch, a. pipe conneetdirection serving to open the valve for eonl0 ing ea'ch ofsaid passageways to the said trolling the flow of the cutting gas and to e 6 head, one of said pipes conducting gas to 01088 the remaining valv s.

supply the cutting jet, a. control lever com In testimony whereof, I sign my name. men to all of said valves, operativeconnec- JAMES D. MGOUTGHEON. 

